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In contrast to the conclusion of Tung-liang Chiang that the degree of
income equality, rather the absolute level of income, accounts for the
lower mortality rate among young Taiwanese children in 1995, BMJ readers
might be interested in a new study by Jennifer Mellor, at the College of
William and Mary, and Jeffrey Milyo, an economist at Tufts University.
(For a short summary of their findings http://www.ncpa.org/pd/economy/pd102899d.html.)
After controlling for various factors, Mellor and Milyo found that
equality didn't determine health, but rather that both are linked to a
third factor -- individual income. They found that areas with high
individual income are areas with high income equality and health.
Also, it may be that as economies become more developed -- and,
therefore, average incomes rise -- the relative economic position of any
particular family becomes less important to the health of their children
than in less developed economies. This may be so because access to health
care is widely available, without regard to income, in wealthier
societies.
An Indirect Link Between Health & Equality?
In contrast to the conclusion of Tung-liang Chiang that the degree of
income equality, rather the absolute level of income, accounts for the
lower mortality rate among young Taiwanese children in 1995, BMJ readers
might be interested in a new study by Jennifer Mellor, at the College of
William and Mary, and Jeffrey Milyo, an economist at Tufts University.
(For a short summary of their findings
http://www.ncpa.org/pd/economy/pd102899d.html.)
After controlling for various factors, Mellor and Milyo found that
equality didn't determine health, but rather that both are linked to a
third factor -- individual income. They found that areas with high
individual income are areas with high income equality and health.
Also, it may be that as economies become more developed -- and,
therefore, average incomes rise -- the relative economic position of any
particular family becomes less important to the health of their children
than in less developed economies. This may be so because access to health
care is widely available, without regard to income, in wealthier
societies.
Competing interests: No competing interests